18 July 2024 , 20:27
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A third person is being hunted by police in connection with the killing of two British men believed to have been executed in Sweden.
On Sunday, two bodies believed to be travel agents Juan Cifuentes, 33, and Farooq Abdulrazak, 27, were found shot dead in a burned out car in an industrial estate in the Swedish city of Malmö.
The men were thought to be on a business trip and their car was last seen being driven past the Öresund Bridge toll station hours earlier in the afternoon.
Police are investigating whether the deaths are linked to gang violence and believe the pair were shot dead before the car was set on fire.
The two victims are believed to be Farooq Abdulrazak (left) and Juan Cifuentes (right) (Picture: Facebook)
Investigators are also on the lookout for a third man who was apparently in close contact with the pair when they rented the car, Aftonbladet reports.
CCTV footage shows Juan and Farooq renting a car at Copenhagen Kastrup airport, before heading over the border into Sweden on Sunday.
With them was a third man, who reportedly travelled with the pair from London Heathrow and was allegedly spotted in the car with them before they died, Swedish outlet Sydsvenskan reports.
Yet the man was nowhere to be seen when the bodies were discovered on a dirt road a short while later, and he does not appear in any of the CCTV footage.
A double-murder probe has been launched by police, with the nature of the killing prompting speculation it may have been a gang-related murder.
Their friend Naoman Waheed, 46, also told MailOnline it could be a ‘carjacking gone wrong.’
He said: ‘From what I’ve heard from the families, Swedish Police are looking into whether there was an incident just as they crossed the border from Denmark.
CCTV shows two missing Brits renting a car at Danish airport a day before bodies ‘were found in burning Toyota SUV’ in Sweden (Picture: Aftonbladet)
‘There seems to have been an attack on the car, a carjacking gone wrong and potential robbery.’
Juan’s sister Laura Cifuentes told The Sun: ‘There’s no confirmation. There’s no confirmation that they’ve been shot. The bodies are still being identified.
‘They were meant to return home and it was meant to be a short business trip.’
Police have not yet formally identified the bodies, but ‘have an idea’ of who the two men are, and Cifuentes says there is a ‘99% chance’ her brother and Abdulrazak are the victims.
It is believed the two men are good friends from north London, who run a travel agency together.
Juan also coaches young children at football and used to play for Welwyn Garden City FC.
Police have not identified a suspect yet, although Interpol are involved in the investigation.
The two men were found shot dead in a nburned out car (Picture: Shutterstock)
A Swedish Police Authority spokesperson added: ‘The two people who were found dead in a burnt-out car on Sunday afternoon have not yet been identified.
‘The bodies are being examined by forensic medicine. The incident is currently being investigated as a murder.
‘Several witnesses have been interviewed and the police are interested in further observations and tips.’
Welwyn Garden City FC has paid tribute to Mr Cifuentes, who used to play for the team, calling him a ‘great person’.
Posting on X, formerly Twitter, a club spokesperson said: ‘Everyone at the club is saddened and shocked by the news yesterday of the passing of Juan Cifuentes.
‘Juan was part of our double-winning squad in 2014-15. A very good player and great person.
‘We send our condolences to all his family, friends and ex-teammates. RIP Juan.’